Carnival / Fastnacht: Are you excited about it? (no advertising thread)

Who likes Carnival?

I come from a region that never really had much to do with Carnival. For the past few years, there’s been a big Carnival parade here too, but personally, it’s not my thing.

I do enjoy watching the Rosenmontag parades on TV because I always think the sometimes very biting themed floats are great, but that’s about it for me.
If you live in the Rhineland or further south in Germany, where Fastnacht is still celebrated in a truly traditional way, it’s certainly a different story.
Here in the Lower Saxony Lowlands, I feel like Carnival just doesn’t really belong....

I like watching the parade in my hometown. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t happen every year.
I don’t like the carnival chaos on TV.

Of course, the “three most beautiful days” in Basel. Back in the day, with the whole family, piccolos and drums. “Wettsteinmarsch, forward march” at the “Morgeschtraich,” and everything else that goes with it. Nobody works on Monday or Wednesday, it’s a cantonal holiday. Nice for everyone in Basel.
Now as a viewer in front of the TV. 

Have a lovely evening, everyone 

Jana

When I still lived in Vorarlberg, I loved the Gugamusi. They’re music groups in awesome costumes...otherwise, I’m not really a Carnival person. I never enjoyed dressing up as a kid, and for some reason, my kids don’t like it either....maybe it’s genetic or how they were raised ☺.

Hi, everyone!

Here in the Rhineland, there’s no getting around it...
I used to love going out and partying during Carnival, but these days the big Carnival parade that passes by our house is enough for me.
We all dress up on that day, too (for years now, we’ve had a costume theme for the whole family—sometimes clowns, sometimes dwarves, sometimes Robin Hood...), and I often sew the costumes myself.
But that’s about it...
No, wait, that’s not quite true... we also go to an inclusive Carnival event here at the community center—it’s always great!

Best wishes, Nina

I’m bumping this thread again so you can still share your thoughts if you’d like.

I used to participate with great enthusiasm. Even as a child, dressing up was my absolute favorite thing to do, even outside of Carnival season. When my kids were still little, I sewed lots of Carnival costumes for them. They had a dress-up box where we put old clothes and fabric scraps. They were always allowed to have a kids’ carnival party at our house. And on Shrove Tuesday, we’d go to “München narrisch” in costume. Then things quieted down a bit. Dressing up wasn’t “cool” anymore.
But for the past few years, my grandchildren have been around, and they love Carnival! And now I’m back at the sewing machine...

I was born and raised in Düsseldorf, so Carnival is something you grow up with from the very start. These days it’s a bit quieter, but I still have lots of wonderful memories.
The craziest times were always during the 15 years I worked at a Japanese company. What went on there was always so amazing. We even made it into a Japanese newspaper.
But even today, going to a women’s Carnival party is an absolute must.
Helau!!!

I have to admit, Carnival just doesn’t do anything for me. Even though Mainz is just a stone’s throw away. As a young girl, I often worked as a waitress during that time. First, because no one else wanted to do it and it paid pretty well (by the standards of the time), and second, because the tips went up as the alcohol levels rose ;-) I probably still associate Carnival with stress, which is why I just can’t get into it ;-) 

Hi,

I’m also someone who wants nothing to do with Carnival. I don’t watch the parades or the Carnival speeches (is that what they’re called?).

And you won’t see me at any Carnival party, let alone in a costume.

Luckily, I live in a region where Carnival isn’t celebrated :-)

I think if I lived in the Rhineland (or somewhere like that), I’d definitely be in a Carnival club or something. My dream is to be a Funkenmariechen, but with my sense of rhythm, I’d probably be more of a clown...
Anyway, I always watch the Carnival shows (preferably from Cologne) on TV.
I once had a boyfriend in Bergisch Gladbach; Carnival season there was great.

Here in Hamburg, Carnival isn’t really much of a thing. There’s a very well-known party, but I’m kind of past that age somehow, since it’s a total pick-up party and the average age is around 20 or so.
So I just keep watching it on TV and annoy my husband with my Carnival enthusiasm

Here we call it Fasching, but that doesn’t really appeal to me either. I didn’t like it even as a kid, and now as an adult, I’ve been going to children’s masquerade balls the last few years just for the kids’ sake.
This year, though, we’d rather go skiing than go to the masquerade ball.

Even though the Cuxland region isn’t exactly a Carnival stronghold, I love Carnival—especially the one in Cologne.
It would be a dream to take part in a ladies’ carnival session like that, or any session at all. Unfortunately, I’ve only seen them on TV, but I really get into it.
We (I volunteer with the German Red Cross) celebrate Rose Monday with our senior citizens. There’s plenty going on there, too.

Are you already in the Carnival spirit?

Not at all! I really don’t like this whole “being funny on command” thing. Our kids aren’t too crazy about it either. Our oldest has hated dressing up ever since kindergarten, and our little one doesn’t like the parades because the marching bands are too loud for her, and she’s often had her fingers stepped on by really greedy ADULTS while collecting candy. Plus, we don’t like people who are heavily intoxicated, and you can’t avoid them at Carnival parades...

I’m originally from the Ruhr region, and I was actively involved in Carnival there for a long time—first as a patron, later in a dance troupe, and also behind the scenes on the club’s board and everything that goes with it.
To some extent, I have to agree with Nadeleule. During its peak, it often felt like cheerfulness at the push of a button, but well, that’s normal when you’re on stage.
  I had the most fun away from the stage and the hustle and bustle—but I enjoyed it all year round.

Now I live in the Swabian Alb, and Swabian Fasnet is really not my thing. I don’t like people in masks, and I certainly don’t want them touching me. Even when I know who’s under the mask, I almost panic. That doesn’t really make it any easier for me. I coached a dance troupe here quite successfully for a few years, and I have to say the entire club was really great about dealing with my phobia of masks. Even though we accompanied our troupe very often, the club managed to make sure I was always spared from people in masks.
Still, it’s just not my thing, and I only go to parades for my kids’ sake—and even then, only with my husband as my “chaperone.”
But I wish everyone who enjoys it lots of fun during the carnival festivities. 

We don’t really do Carnival here in Berlin, but I’ve just got a crochet commission for a headpiece to go with a costume. It’s supposed to be a headband with a muffin on it, since the matching dress is being sewn in that same fabric pattern.

My design is finished, but I haven’t sewn it together yet. I’m curious to see whether the customer likes it.



By the way, I should have written it down right away for a new pattern! ;)

Best regards

Danie from Frollein Häkelfein

It’s absolutely awesome. Especially the cherry on top!
Really well done—congratulations!

Thank you! The customer said it’s perfect… especially with the cherry! :)